2pm - update - injured pupils in 'good spirits'

Brentwood School has posted an update on the condition of pupils injured in the coach crash in Belgium on their website. 

A 13-year-old boy suffered a fractured skull and was placed in intensive care until a brain scan revealed an improvement while another pupil fractured their leg. 

The school's headteacher has now tweeted: "I'm pleased to report that our 2 pupils in hospital in Belgium are in good spirits and looking forward to returning home later this week."

A statement on the school's website added: "The latest news from Belgium is that the 2 boys in hospital in the Ostend area are in good spirits and looking forward to coming home later this week.

“We are in regular contact with their parents and continue to keep all parents and pupils informed about their progress.

“We have also visited the six members of staff who accompanied the children, some of whom are in considerable pain from injuries sustained during the crash.

“Counselling is available in school on request for staff and pupils, with priority being given to those who were on the coach.

“Representatives from the school are planning to attend the funeral in Northern Ireland of James Chance, the driver who tragically lost his life, and our thoughts remain with his family.”

 

1pm - Update - Injured pupil is out of intensive care

A Brentwood School pupil who suffered a fractured skull during a coach crash in Belgium is now out of intensive care. 

The 13-year-old was injured on the coach, which was travelling to Cologne in Germany when it crashed into a bridge in Middelkerke, West Flanders, and went off the road.

Ian Davies, the school's headteacher, has now tweeted that the teenager is out of intensive care. 

He said: "You will be pleased to hear the pupil in Belgium is now out of intensive care.

"Results of his latest brain scan are very positive."

A statement posted on the school's website added: "Our thoughts are still with the two pupils in hospital in Belgium, and shortly after 11.00am UK time, the Headmaster spoke with the British Consulate and the parents of the pupil with the fractured skull.

"He is pleased with his progress and he is now out of intensive care, being monitored for 48 hours.

"The representative said he was on his way to visit the other pupil and will update the School with further news."

Other trips planned by the school to locations around the country will continue to go ahead as planned. 

10.30am - Update - 25 pupils have returned safely home to their families

Twenty-five pupils involved in the Brentwood School coach crash in Belgium have safely returned home to their families.

The children, aged between 11 and 13, arrived safely back at the school at about 11.30pm last night, although a 13-year-old schoolboy who suffered a fractured skull and another pupil with a fractured leg remain in hospital with their parents at their bedsides.

Six teachers were also on the coach, which was travelling to Cologne in Germany when it crashed into a bridge in Middelkerke, West Flanders, and went off the road.

One teacher is thought to have suffered a broken collar bone in the collision that happened at around 9.45am local time.

A coach driver, who has now been named as James “Geordie” Chance, a grandfather of five, from Lisburn in County Antrim, was killed in the crash. 

Ian Davies, the school’s headteacher, said: "All of the children managed to walk off the coach.

"One of the children subsequently had a head injury. He had a scan and they found a small brain bleed as part of his fractured skull.

"Some of the children seem to be fairly relaxed and doing pretty normal things like swimming and playing football."

He also sent his condolences to the family of the coach driver, adding that he did not know if the company had been used by the school before.

The headmaster said he would like to thank and congratulate all the teachers who were there in what was a "terribly difficult situation".

A statement on the school’s website, posted at 11.30pm last night said: “The coach returning the remaining pupils and staff arrived on the school site close to 11.30pm on Sunday night.

“Their families were there to greet them, in what was an emotional reunion.

“It was clear to see the trauma that they had gone through, both psychologically and physically, with visible cuts and bruises, slings and bandages.

“Our thoughts and prayers are still with the two pupils and their families in hospital.

“We await to hear news from them on Monday.”

8.10am Monday - update - The driver who was killed in the Brentwood School coach crash in Belgium has been named

The driver who was sadly killed when a coach carrying 34 Brentwood School pupils crashed in Belgium has now been named.

James "Geordie" Chance, of Lisburn in County Antrim, was the only fatality of the crash in Middelkerke in West Flanders.

Mr Chance, a grandfather of five, was believed to have been sitting next to the coach's driver when it crashed into a motorway bridge.

The coach involved in the crash is owned by Richmond Coaches of Ballinderry Road, Lisburn, in Northern Ireland.

In a statement last night, the firm said: "Richmond Coaches confirms that one of its drivers sadly lost his life in today's crash in Belgium.

"The two drivers in their mid-fifties were James Chance and Stephen Cardwell.

“Mr Cardwell remains in hospital with his condition described as stable.

"Richmond Coaches were devastated to hear of the death of their second driver, Mr Chance who was sitting in the courier seat at the time of the crash.

“Mr Chance's family have been informed of his death.

"Richmond Coaches would like to reassure all families of the children and teachers that none of the passengers have sustained life threatening injuries."

The company's director Brendan McKenna added that his "thoughts and prayers" were with all the families affected.

Belgian police are now investigating the cause of the crash, a spokesman for Middelkerke town council confirmed.

The Foreign Office has confirmed that it was working with Belgian authorities to establish details of the incident.

In a statement, it said: "We have been informed that the driver was killed in the collision and his assistant has been severely injured.

"Our thoughts are clearly with his family and all the families of the pupils and teachers involved."

3.30pm Sunday - Update - 13-year-old boy left with fractured skull, two teachers hurt

A 13-YEAR-OLD pupil from the Brentwood School has suffered a fractured skull in the horrific coach crash in Belgium earlier today.

Headteacher, Ian Davies, addressed a press conference this afternoon, and told how two of his teachers were also hurt, possibly suffering a broken arm and broken collar bone.

The boy, who was seriously hurt, remains in intensive care and faces a brain scan. His parents are driving to Belgium to be with him.

Mr Davies said the coach left the school at about 4am and all 34 students on board were language pupils travelling to Cologne in Germany.

The crash happened at about 9.45am local time close to Ostend in Belgium, when the coach hit a bridge. The driver, believed to be from Northern Ireland, died at the scene whilst his assistant was also seriously hurt.

Mr Davies told the press: "I heard at about 9am this morning that a coach crashed with 34 students from Brentwood School.

"Communication has been very difficult with everyone on board but we managed to speak to teachers on board. We had a meeting with parents.

"Some have been able to contact their children on mobile phones. 

"We know that all 34 walked off the coach and they are by and large with superficial injuries.

"There is one boy, aged 13, who has head injuries and he is being kept in intensive care and he will have a brain scan in 24 hours to check the state of his very small brain bleed at the moment. He had a fractured skull.

"One or two of the teachers may have broken bones - one has a broken collar bone and one has a broken arm.

"We have no further details of the accident and we have been in touch with the Foreign Office and they are helping us with repatriation arrangements of the children but there are investigations by the Belgian authorities."

Mr Davies said that a school assembly will held for children tomorrow where information will be passed out. 

12.50pm Sunday - Breaking news - Coach driver dead, pupil seriously hurt

A COACH driver has died and an adult and a child were seriously injured after a bus carrying British schoolchildren crashed in Belgium, a school spokesman said.

Brentwood School in Essex confirmed the coach was carrying 34 pupils aged between 11 and 13.

School spokesman Oli Adams said one child is in intensive care after suffering a head injury.

Six teachers were also aboard the coach which was travelling to Cologne in Germany when it crashed in Middelkerke, West Flanders, at about 9.45am local time (8.45am BST).

None of the teachers are thought to have been seriously hurt but the driver of the vehicle, who is thought to be from Northern Ireland, died.

The school said in a statement: "A coach travelling to Cologne with 34 first and second-year pupils and six teachers from the school was involved in a collision with a bridge near Ostend in Belgium.

"All pupils walked off the coach and several pupils and teachers have been taken to local hospitals. One pupil is in intensive care receiving treatment for a head injury.

"We have informed all the parents of the 34 pupils and the headmaster, Ian Davies, is holding a briefing for them at the school this morning.

"We have been informed that the driver was killed in the collision and his assistant has been severely injured.

"Our thoughts are clearly with his family and all the families of the pupils and teachers involved.

"Two senior members of staff have travelled to Belgium this morning and as soon as we have more information we will inform everyone involved."

The coach is owned by Richmond Coaches of Ballinderry Road, Lisburn, in Northern Ireland, and a company spokesman confirmed it only employed Northern Irish drivers.

He added the coach company was now trying to establish the identity of the driver and his assistant, adding: "Any incident involving a coach crash like this is clearly a tragedy."

A spokesman for police in Middelkerke confirmed 42 British people had been involved in the crash.

He said one person had been killed, but did not confirm their identity.

Brentwood School is a co-educational independent day and boarding school in Brentwood, Essex.

Founded in 1557 and established in 1558, the school has a Tudor schoolroom, a Victorian chapel and several Grade II listed buildings.

The school is set in over 72 acres of land in the centre of Brentwood.